Joby Aviation, based in Santa Cruz, has initiated a lawsuit against competitor Archer Aviation Inc. and former employee George Kivork, alleging corporate espionage. The suit claims that Kivork downloaded confidential files just two days before his resignation and shared this sensitive information with Archer, potentially undermining an exclusive agreement Joby had established with a real estate developer.
The complaint, filed in a California court, details how Kivork served as Joby’s U.S. state and local policy lead for over four years. He announced his departure in July 2025 after accepting a position at Archer, which is headquartered in San Jose. Joby alleges that Kivork’s actions were premeditated and aimed at providing Archer with a competitive advantage.
According to the lawsuit, Kivork allegedly downloaded dozens of confidential files related to Joby’s business strategies and technical information just before announcing his resignation. These files reportedly included key details about aircraft development and strategic partnerships. Joby claims that Kivork added his personal email as an owner of Joby files stored in Google Drive, enabling him to access information created after his departure.
Joby asserts that Archer has already utilized this confidential information to approach the real estate developer, which had entered into an exclusive agreement with Joby. This agreement was designed to allow Joby to build and operate skydecks at the developer’s properties, preventing similar arrangements for an 18-month period. Joby alleges that Archer’s offer included specifics about their agreement that should have remained confidential.
Following this breach, the developer informed Joby that Archer had made contact, leading to the termination of their agreement. Joby conducted a forensic investigation of Kivork’s devices, which reportedly confirmed that he had downloaded sensitive files and sent them to his personal email. Without access to these files, Joby claims that Archer would have faced significant challenges in crafting a competitive proposal.
The lawsuit also highlights Archer’s history of legal disputes. Notably, one lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed, which accused Archer of misleading investors about its technological progress. Additionally, aerospace manufacturer Wisk Aero previously accused Archer of stealing trade secrets, resulting in a settlement that designated Wisk as the exclusive provider of Archer’s autonomy technology.
Kivork began his tenure at Joby in 2021, representing the company to government officials and business partners. Prior to his employment, he signed an agreement to protect Joby’s proprietary information. Even after his resignation, he reiterated his commitment to confidentiality. Despite this, Joby claims Kivork’s actions represent a clear violation of his contractual obligations.
In response to the situation, Joby is seeking both damages and an injunction to prevent Archer from further utilizing the allegedly stolen information, arguing that such actions could cause irreparable harm to the company. The lawsuit encompasses multiple allegations against Kivork, including breach of contract and fiduciary duty, while Archer faces accusations of inducing these breaches and unfair competition.
A case management conference involving all parties is scheduled for March 2026. Joby has not commented on the ongoing litigation, while Archer has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the lawsuit. As the legal proceedings unfold, the implications for both companies and the future of electric vertical take-off and landing technology remain to be seen.